February 2026 Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary

Upper Mississippi River Climate Summary for Febuary 2026:

Temperatures - Much Warmer than Normal

During February 2026, average temperatures ranged from 20.3°F near Owen, WI (COOP) to 28.8°F at Prairie du Chien, WI (COOP). Temperature anomalies ranged from 2°F to 9°F warmer-than-normal. There was an 78°F difference between the warmest and coldest temperatures in the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The warmest temperature was 66°F near Prairie du Chien, WI (COOP) on February 17. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature was -12°F at Black River Falls, WI (RAWS) on February 4.

Precipitation - Mainly Drier than Normal

Precipitation totals varied from 0.10" near Austin, MN (CoCoRaHS) to 1.36"near Warrens, WI (CoCoRaHS).  Precipitation anomalies ranged from near normal to 1" drier than normal. The highest one-day precipitation was 1.15" near Waukon, IA from February 19 to February 20.
Snowfall - Mainly Below Normal
Snowfall totals varied from 0.4" at St. Ansgar, IA (COOP) to 15.1" near New Hampton, IA (CoCoRaHS). Snowfall anomalies ranged from 12" below normal to 4" above normal. The highest one-day snowfall was 13.5" near New Hampton (CoCoRaHS) from February 19 to February 20.

Below are the February 2026 climate summaries for La Crosse, WI, and Rochester, MN.

La Crosse, WI

February 2026 was Warmer and Drier than Normal for La Crosse, WI

...February 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - Warmer than Normal

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• 0.56" of precipitation fell.
• This was 0.63" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.19".
• Measurable precipitation fell on 5 days and trace amounts fell on 5 days.
• The wettest day was February 20 when 0.46" of precipitation fell.

Snowfall - Below Normal

• 7.9" of snow fell.
• This was 1.8" below the 1991-2020 normal of 9.7".
• Measurable snow fell on 2 days and trace amounts fell on 7 days.
• The snowiest day was February 20 when 6 inches of snow fell.

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The average snow depth was 2.3".
• This was 2.7" below the long-term average of 5".
• The greatest snow depth was 6" from February 20 to February 23.

...Records...

• None.

...Looking ahead to March...

• The normal high temperature in La Crosse warms from 38°F on March 1st to 53°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature warms from 20°F on the 1st and to 32°F by the end of the month. The warmest March temperature on record is 84°F on March 29, 1986; and the coldest is -28°F on March 1, 1962.  
• The normal mean temperature for March is 35.8°F. La Crosse’s warmest March occurred in 2012 with an average temperature of 50.4°F, and their coldest March occurred in 1899 with an average temperature of 21.3°F. 
• The normal March precipitation is 2.04". The wettest March occurred in 1876 with 4.23" of precipitation and the driest occurred in 1910 with just 0.03". The wettest March day occurred on March 27, 1880, when 2.01" of precipitation fell. Normally, there is 1 day with thunderstorms.
• The normal March snowfall is 7.3" (4th snowiest month). The snowiest March occurred in 1959 with 33.5" of snow and the least snow was no snow in 2010. The snowiest March day occurred on March 13, 1997, when 14.3" of snow fell.
   

Rochester, MN
 

February 2026 was Much Warmer and Drier than Normal for Rochester MN

...February 2026 Highlights...

Temperatures - 10th Warmest

• During February 2026, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 26.9°F.
• This was 8.2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 18.7°F.
• This was the 10th warmest February.
• In the table below are the 20 warmest Februarys for Rochester, MN.

  20 Warmest Februarys
    for Rochester MN
        1886-2026

Rank    Avg. Temp    Year
----    ---------    ----
  1   32.6 degrees   2024
  2   32.0 degrees   1931
  3   31.8 degrees   1954
  4   29.4 degrees   1998
  5   29.3 degrees   1987
  6   28.7 degrees   1930
  7   28.2 degrees   1976
  8   27.7 degrees   2012
  9   27.6 degrees   2017
 10   26.9 degrees   2026
 11   26.7 degrees   1992
 12   26.6 degrees   1999
 13   26.3 degrees   2000
 14   25.9 degrees   2002
 15   25.6 degrees   1961
 16   25.4 degrees   1984
 17   24.9 degrees   1915
 18   24.6 degrees   2005
 19   24.5 degrees   1964
 20   24.1 degrees   1952

• The average high temperature was 35.2°F. This was 8.5°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 26.7°F. This was the 11th warmest for February.
• The average low temperature was 18.5°F. This was 7.8°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 10.7°F. This was the 14th warmest for February.
• The warmest temperature was 55°F on February 16 and the coldest temperature 2°F on February 3.

Precipitation - Drier than Normal

• 0.51" of precipitation fell.
• This was 0.51" drier than the 1991-2020 normal of 1.02".
• Measurable precipitation fell on 4 days and trace amounts fell on 4 days.
• The wettest day was February 18 when 0.29" of precipitation fell.

Snowfall - Below Normal

• 6.1" of snow fell.
• This was 4.6" below the 1991-2020 normal of 10.7".
• Measurable precipitation fell on 3 days and trace amounts fell on 3 days.
• The snowiest day was February 28 when 4.9" of snow fell.

Snow Depth - Below Average

• The average snow depth was 0.5".
• This was 5.3" below the long-term average of 5.8".
• The greatest snow depth was 2" on February 2 to February 5. 

...Records...

Daily...

• February 13 - High Temperature of 48°F - Previous record was 47°F in 1919
• February 15 - High Temperature of 53°F - Previous record was 49°F in 1931
• February 16 - Warm Low of 36°F - Previous record was 35°F in 1981
• February 17 - Warm Low of 36°F - Previous record was 35°F in 1981

...Looking ahead to March...

• The normal high temperature in Rochester warms from 32°F on March 1st to 48°F by the end of the month. The normal low temperature warms from 17°F on the 1st to 30°F by the end of the month. The warmest March temperature on record is 82°F on March 24, 1910; and the coldest is -31°F on March 1, 1962.  
• The normal mean temperature for March is 31.7°F. Rochester’s warmest March occurred in 2012 with an average temperature of 49.1°F, and its coldest March occurred in 1888 with an average temperature of 17.4°F. 
• The normal March precipitation is 2.02". The wettest March occurred in 1888 with 4.02" of precipitation and the driest occurred in 1910 with just a trace of precipitation. The wettest March day occurred on March 22, 2011, when 2.20" of precipitation fell. Normally, there is 1 day with thunderstorms.
• The normal March snowfall is 8.6" (4th snowiest month). The snowiest March occurred in 1951 with 35.1" of snow and the least snow was no snow in 2010. The snowiest March day occurred on March 18, 2005, when 19.8" of snow fell.